Hence she
heard Silas's last words with relief, and thought, as Godfrey did,
that their wish was achieved.
'Eppie, my dear,' said Godfrey, looking at his daughter, not
without some embarrassment, under the sense that she was old enough to
judge him, 'it'll always be our wish that you should show your love
and gratitude to one who's been a father to you so many years, and
we shall want to help you to make him comfortable in every way. But we
hope you'll come to love us as well; and though I haven't been what
a father should have been to you all these years, I wish to do the
utmost in my power for you for the rest of my life, and provide for
you as my only child. And you'll have the best of mothers in my
wife- that'll be a blessing you haven't known since you were old
enough to know it.'
'My dear, you'll be a treasure to me,' said Nancy, in her gentle
voice. 'We shall want for nothing when we have our daughter.'
Eppie did not come forward and curtsy, as she had done before.
She held Silas's hand in hers, and grasped it firmly- it was a
weaver's hand, with a palm and finger-tips that were sensitive to such
pressure- while she spoke with colder decision than before.
'Thank you, ma'am- thank you, sir, for your offers- they're very
great, and far above my wish. For I should have no delight in life any
more if I was forced to go away from my father, and knew he was
sitting at home, a-thinking of me and feeling lone.
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